Getting fatter? Change your lifestyle

 “FAT” is a globally-recognized word used to describe people on the heavier side. Health experts warn about the negative impact of being overweight and we already know that this could lead to various health problems.   

Butter, Margarine or Fat Spread ?

It is a must in our day-to-day cooking and baking. The moistener that most can’t imagine a slice of bread without. Whatever you choose, butter or margarine are not items that one easily forgets when shopping for essential groceries.

Depression in Teenagers; How to cope with the challenges

‘Depression’ is a hot topic amongst the social media community these days. It is refreshing to see some of the stigma attached to mental illnesses being washed off by the younger generation.

Dental Dilemma

Query: I am a 20- year-old boy who has been suffering from severe toothache at the back of my upper jaw since of late. It is especially painful when I have my meals and apply pressure on the tooth. For quite a while, I have been suffering from extreme tooth sensitivity also, not having the ability to 

Myth Buster

MYTH: If you pluck one grey hair two will grow in its place.  

‘Knowing your enemy’ in the Battle against Dengue

Dengue has raised its head more viciously than ever before, with the onset of the monsoon season. Hospitals are overflowing with dengue patients and healthcare workers everywhere are undergoing a fierce battle to monitor and treat patients with the limited staff they have.

A stroke, heart attack or acid reflux?

Query: I’m a 24-year-old woman and have symptoms such as headaches and dizziness when I bow my head. I also feel faintish at times but this lasts for about three to four seconds

Myth Buster

MYTH:  Reading in bad light can weaken your eyesight  

Migraines More Than “Just a Headache”

Many people suffer from migraines at a young age but most do not know how to identify them. According to Dr. Arjuna Fernando, a Neurologist at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital, a migraine is a pounding, throbbing headache usually felt on one side of the head. “By definition, a typical migraine may go on for more than half an hour. Some migraines even go on for two to three days. 

Cutting your sugar cravings!

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB’s) are the biggest source of added sugar in modern diets and a major source of unnecessary calories, particularly among children, adolescents and young adults. 

BEWARE OF HIGH HEELS

Cholesterol control

“Adults above the age of 40 and patients suffering from other non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart-related diseases are advised to get a lipid profile done in order to diagnose high cholesterol.”- Dr. Pradeep Kumarasinghe De Silva, Consultant Physician, Colombo National Hospital.   

An anecdote to heart diseases

Globally, the incidence of heart disease is increasing at an alarming pace. The stress of modern living, lack of exercise and diet patterns can be noted as contributory factors of this deadly prevalence. As we have heard countless times, heart disease can be prevented by taking 

Antibiotic Resistance:

Though micro-organisms have their uses, invading and infecting our bodies are certainly  not one of them! There was a time in the not-so recent past when tuberculosis equalled a preassigned death certificate and leprosy meant that you had to spend your life in an asylum, isolated from civilization. 

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction following pregnancy

Have you noticed that a small amount of urine leaks out accidentally when you cough, sneeze or lift things during pregnancy? You could be having a condition known as pelvic floor dysfunction.   

Melioidosis: another deadly disease that increases during floods

Melioidosis is a tropical infection, transmitted from soil and water to humans. It is seen only in warm, tropical countries. The causative pathogen, Burkholderia pseudomallei, is a bacterium found naturally in soil and water. The bacterium enters the body through soil or water contamination of abraded skin. 

Myth Buster

MYTH: Trimming your hair frequently makes it grow faster  

Is Your Blood Pressure Under Control ?

Out of the many illnesses that deteriorate the quality of human health, non-communicable diseases have been identified as a common threat known to cause the highest number of deaths today. Non-communicable diseases are also known as non-infectious diseases and are not transmitted through micro-organisms.  

Chronic pain tied to faster memory decline in old age

Older people who suffer from persistent pain may experience a faster deterioration of memory and a greater risk of dementia as they age compared to peers who are not in chronic pain, a recent study suggests.  

Leptospirosis - Silent killer in the background of heavy floods

Sri Lanka faced one of the biggest natural disasters ever in its history with the recent floods, which led to the loss of life of many innocent people. Looking back at these devastating episodes, it is always better to think of how they could have been prevented beforehand so that the negative impact of mother nature could be minimized, while the natural balance of the environment is maintained.  

Water; Lethal or Life preserving? it all depends on the dose…

The word, ‘life’ is tightly bonded with the word ‘water’. The first life form on earth is believed to have originated from water. A large percentage of all known life forms  are composed of water. About sixty percent of a healthy adult human male body comprises water; this again is divided into water that is 

To juice or not to juice?

It’s nothing new that fruits and vegetables should be an  essential part of everyone’s diet. It is of utmost importance to have a regular intake of  these as part of one’s diet. However, not everyone enjoys including fruits and vegetables  in their meals

Margosa A miracle medicine to cure cancer

The Biology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Institute of the Colombo University claims that for the fist time in the world, they have found that a chemical compounds extracted from the Margosa (Azadirachta indica) plant are capable of destroying cancer stem cells.  

Tobacco kills 7 million a year, wreaks environmental havoc: WHO

Smoking and other tobacco use kills more than seven million people each year, the World Health Organization said this week, also warning of the dire environmental impact of tobacco production, distribution and waste.

HIP POCKET SYNDROME

Neck Pain

There are seven pieces of bone called cervical vertebrae in the inner core of the neck. They bear the weight of the head and protect the spinal cord that travels within 

The latest skin care magic: Honey bee venom

The world is moving faster than we ever thought it  would a few decades back. Similar to everything else, methods of  enhancing beauty, therapeutic procedures and medications are rapidly  advancing, probably due to the higher customer demands and competition  in the market.   

Fibroids: Benign tumours that develop in the uterus

The development of fibroids is a common occurrence among women. This condition usually prevails among unmarried women or those who don’t have children. While these are benign tumours which develop in the womb,

Keeping Your Hands Clean

People these days are too busy to remember to wash their hands, believing there will be no drastic consequences. However according to Dr. Kushlani Jayatilleke, Consultant Microbiologist at the Sri Jayawardanapura General Hospital, maintaining good hand hygiene can stop the spread of infections and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.  

The barriers to obtaining

Vitamin D is considered an important vitamin which helps in the growth of teeth and bones. It is difficult to obtain vitamin D from food due to the fact that those rich in the vitamin are limited.